Latest news with #ThreeofUs
Mint
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Can't recall a person's name? You are not alone
Kartik Parija prides himself on his elephantine memory, yet lately, names have begun to slip away. 'I've had moments when I reconnect with someone from the pre-internet days, vividly recall our shared history but momentarily blank on their name," says the 49-year-old entrepreneur from Bengaluru. He recalls awkwardly steering such conversations without naming the person, while his mind scrambles to retrieve that 'fundamental piece of personal connection". This lapse has emerged only in the past three years, he says. 'It feels profoundly strange, like the fuzzy confusion after pulling an all-nighter before an exam." Don't chalk it up to age. Screenwriter Shoaib Zulfi Nazeer has noticed this since his mid-20s. 'Back in school and college, everyone was a peer, and you heard names so often that remembering them was easy. After I moved to Mumbai in 2018 and started approaching people online for networking, I realised I struggled with remembering names," says the 32-year-old from Roorkee. Nazeer has co-written dialogues for movies like Three of Us (2022) and Superboys of Malegaon (2024). The common thread in their experience of forgetting names is the influx of digital communication. Both describe how the flood of information has fragmented attention so much that even after regular, sometimes deep, conversations with people, they find it hard to fully register or retain that primary detail about a person: their name. As communication shifts from verbal to textual in the digital age, we interact with far more people at once. But the cues have changed: instead of calling a name out loud, we open chatboxes after seeing someone's content in a feed, type a few letters before their name auto-fills in a messaging app, or scroll to their chat in the inbox and ping them directly. The act of saying or mentally repeating a name has diminished, perhaps explaining why names slip from memory mid-conversation. Also read: Neeraj Ghaywan on 'Homebound': 'If I don't tell my stories, who will?' Mumbai-based neurologist Siddharth Warrier explains how a name carries auditory, visual (tied to a person's face), and emotional cues, each stored in different areas of the brain and woven together during recall. 'The more sensory hooks you attach to a name, the stronger your ability to remember it," he says. Digital communication creates a kind of 'sensory blindfolding," explains Warrier, often reducing people to flat, two-dimensional entities and depriving the brain of the multi-sensory input needed to anchor a name in long-term memory. Digital communication has given rise to a kind of cognitive offloading, or a shift of information and mental effort to a source outside the brain. Just as we stopped memorising phone numbers once our phones began storing them, we now rely on devices to remember names. Lounge spoke to a dozen people across age groups and professions, and each admitted to scrolling through old chats or mutual groups to look someone up because they couldn't recall their name. This reliance on digital memory is often shaky as names on social media and messaging platforms are frequently pseudonymised—so you tend to see people's social media handles instead of their actual names, or the names are initialised, and display pictures are kept blank for privacy. Pune-based communication coach Junie George Varghese, 44, found herself stuck when she couldn't recall someone's name and scrolled through a WhatsApp group's member list for clues but ended up finding two similarly named contacts. 'They had similar first names, and I didn't remember their surnames either. With no profile pictures, there was no way I could confirm which of them was my person." M.V. Radhakrishna, a 48-year-old cloud computing professional from Hyderabad, recalls a friend calling him for help identifying a former classmate who had responded to his post in their school WhatsApp group. 'The profile only showed this person's initials instead of the full name, and my friend could recognise our friend from the display picture but still not place their name," he says. It is possible for you to struggle with recalling the names of people you have interacted with intensely in the past, says Warrier. 'The neural pathway of our brain's recall network gets rusted. But once you oil it, it kicks back into gear." However, the more stressed you are, the harder it is for the brain to retain and recall things, he says, because the stress makes the brain redirect its resources elsewhere. Memory retrieval in the digital age has shifted from being person-focused to content-driven, says Shaheena Attarwala, a product design manager based in Bengaluru. 'People reach out to me on LinkedIn, and I often forget their names or the companies they're from. But I'll remember the theme of our conversation and end up searching for keywords from the chat instead," says the 38-year-old. These are ongoing conversations where she has an incentive to remember the names: like someone who invited her to an offsite of peers. She has actively engaged in conversation with these people and yet struggles to recall their names. It reflects a broader shift in how we engage now: the person has become a means to an end, while the content is the end. In a world where content dominates screen space, especially in short-video formats, names, often reduced to usernames or handles, are relegated to the margins, literally and metaphorically. On Instagram Reels, even a user's identity is minimised. Their handle, not even their real name, appears in small text tucked away in the bottom-left corner of the screen. It's the 'TikTokification of conversations", says Attarwala, where the story matters more than who's telling it. 'I do glance at the names of people posting on my feed before I like or comment, but a few minutes later, I often can't recall who it was," admits Daksh P. Jain, 21, a visual designer and software developer from Delhi. 'Social media and digital relationships have made people think that other people are disposable, so to speak. It's easier than ever to forget people because digital communication reduces a person to their contribution," he says. Yet, digital communication, for all its flaws, can offer unexpected advantages when it comes to memory retention. 'On WhatsApp, for instance, the person's name is constantly visible at the top of the chat, which helps reinforce it passively," says neurologist Warrier. 'In contrast, during an in-person conversation, even if the exchange is meaningful, a name might be mentioned only once, right at the start, and never again, which can make it harder to retain." Mumbai-based behavioural scientist Anand Damani points out that name recall during first-time face-to-face meetings can be especially tricky. 'Your brain is busy taking in so many cues—Do I like this person? Can I trust them?—that the name often doesn't register," he explains. Sometimes, the issue isn't memory failure but selective attention, argues Nazeer with a personal insight: 'I've often found myself asking someone their name, but instead of hearing their answer, I'm already thinking about the next question to ask them." It's not out of rudeness, he clarifies. 'It's just that I'm processing so much information every day that the small-talk phase feels expendable. I'm always in a hurry to get to the part of the conversation that matters. So it's not that my brain forgets. It's that it consciously chooses to treat certain information, like names, as disposable." Radhakrishna has created an open-source people tracker tool where he saves notes about a person directly on to a Google Sheet. 'As a solutions architect, I have to read and research a lot. Rather than just bookmarking articles by experts, I use my blog to jot down short notes and connect people with something to remember them by," he adds. Warrier says that any effort to actively remember things, whether it's names, directions, or phone numbers, has neurological benefits. He recommends attaching value and context to names to better retain them. Merely repeating the name again and again during a conversation will make it stick further in your brain while also making the other person feel seen. Some people tend to add context like where they met someone while saving their contact digitally, notes Warrier. 'Memory works like a network: the more you engage it, the stronger it becomes. And remembering names in particular helps reinforce our social memory, making it easier to maintain and navigate relationships," he adds. Why do parents and grandparents often mix up the names of their children and grandchildren? 'That happens because of adjacent memory retrieval," he says. 'Like how you might struggle to remember an actor's name, but you'll remember the name of a movie he's been in because those memories are stored in relation to each other." Perhaps then it's not always overstimulation or indifference that leads to a name slipping away from someone's mind. It's all very Shakespearean to say, 'What's in a name"? But, as Avneet Kaur, a 27-year-old counselling psychologist from Bengaluru, points out, it doesn't feel that way when you are at the receiving end of this lapse in memory. 'When someone forgets ours, it can feel like a failure to recognise us as a person. Like we didn't matter enough for them to remember," she says. 'When someone does remember your name, it signals that you meant something to them. Our names often carry heritage, meaning, and emotional history. Losing that can flatten how we see each other." In the endless scroll of faces and handles, where identities are often reduced to metadata, remembering someone's name might just be the most human thing we can do. Also read: Why it's important to give the kids a glimpse of your younger self
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The parts I play are main characters: Shefali Shah
Growing up, Shefali Shah thought the most she could aspire to be was an air hostess. Today, with over 25 films under her belt (from Monsoon Wedding to Gandhi, My Father and Three of Us), and some hard-hitting TV shows — let's not forget the 2023 International Emmy award nomination for best actress for Delhi Crime — Shah says she is 'happiest on set'. The versatile actor was in Chennai last weekend for Ignition, a platform created by philanthropic organisation Shiv Nadar Foundation to explore history, education, and society. In her conversation with journalist and host Shoma Chaudhury, Shah frankly discussed how she started her career with theatre, why she will never play Akshay Kumar's mother again, and how the 'parts that she plays are main characters'. With the much-awaited Delhi Crime season 3 in the offing, The Hindu caught up with her to discuss films and understand how she finds silence in her characters. Edited excerpts: If you could revisit a character, which one would it be? Delhi Crime is the strongest one. In a film, to tell the entire story, you only have three hours. But in a series, you have eight episodes to build a whole person. There are challenges with it, but it is more exciting. Vartika is terrific. She is a no-nonsense person, and has a lot of empathy. Everyone thought that Nirbhaya was a personal case for her, which it was. But she takes every case personally, and that's why she's hell-bent on solving it. She is [also] very smart to understand her team's strength and work accordingly. I think she is very nuanced, and I had the time to create her. Most actors work towards finding a character's voice, but what does it take to find a character's silence? I genuinely feel that we have the luxury of a camera that can catch the smallest nuance. If you can say something in two words, don't use four sentences. If you can say something in silence, there is nothing that speaks louder than that. It's all caught [on camera]. I feel that there is a lot of power there. What kind of projects have followed 'Three of Us'? There is a lot of women-centric stuff happening. Often, when one thing takes off, everyone comes to you with similar projects. I shot for Delhi Crime's season three last year. I also shot for the film Hisaab, directed by Vipul Shah. It's a heist, and pretty funny. I take up something if I am completely blown away or affected deeply. A lot of times, I just end up saying no. Shefali's viewing list I watch a lot. I am inclined towards thrillers and human drama, but I am okay with anything that leaves an impact. Let's begin with some series: Adolescence, Chernobyl, When They See Us, Fleabag, and Gaslight. There is an old film too on my list, Steel Magnolias — as all the women characters are fantastic. Films such as Bahubali, Kantara, and Mani Ratnam's works have blown my mind; works of Vidya Balan such as Tumhari Sulu or Dirty Picture. Even [Sanjay Leela Bhasali's] Gangubai. There is so much amazing work happening. Which films, according to you, have best portrayed flawed women? Everyone is flawed in their own way. Vartika is not perfect; she has her own flaws. Shamshunissa [a character from Darling] is terribly flawed, but very unapologetic about it. And rightfully so. Dirty Picture, Disclaimer [a miniseries starring Cate Blanchett], and even Lipstick Under My Burkha [have flawed women]. According to society, they are completely messed up. But even otherwise, they have their own flaws. That is the beauty of humans. It's the rugged edge that makes them so interesting.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shefali Shah's BTS video with Jaideep Ahlawat goes viral on International dance day
To celebrate International Dance Day , Shefali Shah shared a fun behind-the-scenes video with Jaideep Ahlawat , and it quickly became a hit online. The two, who earlier worked together in Three of Us, were seen rehearsing their dance moves on set, bringing smiles to fans' faces. The actress shared a video on Instagram where she was seen practising her dance routine and showing off her graceful moves. But what grabbed everyone's attention was Jaideep Ahlawat in the background, playfully copying her steps. His funny expressions and comic timing had fans laughing out loud. Jaideep Ahlawat's fun dance moves The video shows Jaideep Ahlawat also playfully copying Shefali's dance steps with full energy. At one point, he pauses mid-dance with a confused yet adorable expression. In the final shot, he laughs and sits down, clearly enjoying the light moment. Shefali's caption reads, 'Just no points for guessing who is the better dancer. My vote goes to him for sure!" She signed off with hashtags like #InternationalDanceDay and #Humor, setting the perfect tone for the lighthearted clip. Jaideep added to the banter by commenting, 'What was I doing !!!??' along with monkey and sweat-smile emojis. Fans loved the friendly bond between him and Shefali Shah, filling the comments with praise and laughter. One fan wrote, 'Gajab ho sir… Shefali madam rocks,' while another called Jaideep 'the real pookie in the series.' Some even dubbed him the 'Latest Dance Throb of Bollywood,' referring to his viral dance number Jaadu from his new OTT film ' Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins '. Upcoming projects 'Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins', which was released on OTT on April 25, stars Saif Ali Khan , Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor , and Nikita Dutta. The film is a slick heist drama centred around the search for a rare African gem called the Red Sun. Jaideep's dance in the song Jaadu has already gone viral, and his fun behind-the-scenes dance has made fans love him even more. Exclusive: Jaideep Ahlawat Reveals Hilarious Dance Debut Saga In Most Fun Interview | Jewel Thief
News18
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Jaideep Ahlawat Imitates Shefali Shah's Moves, Leaves Fans In Splits: 'What Was I Doing?'
Actress Shefali Shah posted a BTS dance video with Jaideep Ahlawat on International Dance Day, leaving fans in splits. To celebrate International Dance Day, Shefali Shah gave fans a delightful behind-the-scenes treat featuring Jaideep Ahlawat and it instantly became a hit on the internet. The actors, who previously shared screen space in Three of Us, were seen rehearsing on set in a video that had everyone smiling. The video posted by Shefali on Instagram showed her practicing classical dance, gracefully demonstrating the moves. But what stole the show was Jaideep Ahlawat, standing in the background, hilariously mimicking her steps. His exaggerated imitation, complete with expressive gestures and comic timing, left fans in splits. The video, also shared by Netflix India, captures Jaideep copying Shefali's moves with playful enthusiasm before he pauses mid-routine, looking adorably puzzled. In the final frame, he chuckles and takes a seat, clearly amused by his own performance. Shefali wrote in the caption, 'Just no points for guessing who is the better dancer. My vote goes to him for sure!" She signed off with hashtags like #InternationalDanceDay and #Humor, setting the perfect tone for the lighthearted clip. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shefali Shah (@shefalishahofficial) Jaideep joined in with a cheeky comment: 'What was I doing !!!??" followed by a see-no-evil monkey and sweat-smile emojis. The camaraderie between the two actors didn't go unnoticed, as fans jumped into the comments section with praise and laughter. 'Gajab ho sir… Shefali madam rocks," wrote one user, while another crowned Jaideep 'the real pookie in the series." Others dubbed him the 'Latest Dance Throb of Bollywood," giving a nod to his viral dance number Jaadu from his latest Netflix release Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins. The film, which dropped on Netflix on April 25, stars Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor, and Nikita Dutta. A slick heist drama, it revolves around the hunt for a rare African gem called the Red Sun. Jaideep's dance in Jaadu has already taken over the internet and now his goofy on-set dance has only added to his growing popularity. Meanwhile, Shefali Shah will next be seen in Delhi Crime Season 3 alongside Rajesh Tailang and Rasika Dugal. First Published:
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Jaideep Ahlawat on dancing, ‘fighting a lot' with Saif Ali Khan in ‘Jewel Thief' and his favourite heist movie
Jaideep Ahlawat is drinking up the response to his velvety dance moves in Jewel Thief. The 45-year-old actor, typically known for playing hard-bitten cops and gangsters, or gentle brooders in films like Three of Us, cut a rug alongside Saif Ali Khan and Nikita Dutta in the groovily retro 'Jaadu' that broke the internet. 'The day it happened, the display of my phone malfunctioned,' Jaideep told The Hindu in an interview. 'By the time the phone returned from the service centre, the clips had blown up. I had close to 1,000 messages on Instagram.' The song currently has over 9 million views on YouTube. A majority of the comments are about Jaideep. There are 'dancing Jaideep' reels, and silly claims of AI use. 'It feels great to be popularly validated like that,' says the Paatal Lok actor who was trained by choreographers Piyush Bhagat and Shazia Samji for the song. Jaideep hails from Rohtak, Haryana. While his clips from 'Jaadu' have reached far and wide, his fans back home aren't as gobsmacked, he says. 'They already know I can dance,' nods the 6-f-tall actor who spent his younger days dancing at local weddings. 'For them, it's more like.... finally!' This is a common enough experience for Jaideep: fans and admirers encountering him in person and getting pleasantly surprised. 'They expect to meet Hathiram or Jadunath Maharaj or Naren Vyas. A lady, who had only seen Jaane Jaan, once remarked upon meeting me, 'Oh, you have hair!'' Another curious fan wanted him to remove his sunglasses to verify his eye colour. 'He thought I'll have scary pupil-less eyes like my character in Commando: A One Man Army.' Jaideep says he does not know what 'zaddy'—popular youth slang for an attractive older man—means. Explained, he deadpans, 'Ah, it basically means I am old.' In Jewel Thief, Jaideep plays a duplicitous crime boss who engages Saif Ali Khan's services for an epic diamond heist. The film, releasing on Netflix on April 25, nods back to a glossier era of Hindi heist films, complete with foreign locales, cavernous hi-tech vaults, and those menacing laser beams that act as tripwires between burglar and loot. Nikita Dutta, Jaideep's co-star, confirms they're achieved using practical effects—without the attendant electric shock, of course. 'It's quite funny to see those sequences being shot, especially if you are standing outside the set,' Jaideep chuckles. Jaideep is, of course, a terrific action performer, memorably bruising up Ayushmann Khurrana in those scruffy close-combat brawls in An Action Hero. He promises similar electricity between him and Saif in Jewel Thief. 'We fight a lot in the film,' Jaideep says. 'During one sequence, we broke so many mirrors that Saif was like, 'Is this our job now?'' Spike Lee's 2006 thriller Inside Man is Jaideep's favourite heist film of all time (Incidentally, the Bollywood song 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' plays at the start of that film). 'I love that movie,' Jaideep enthuses. 'Its screenplay, its intricate stuff!' Kunal Kapoor, Jaideep's co-star, is a heist veteran, having played the hacker in 2011's Don 2. Here, he's a brutish detective on Saif's scent. 'A heist film always has to be ahead of its audience,' asserts Kunal, who, for once, isn't playing an inert pacifier but a source of menace. 'They think they know what is going to happen. But then it doesn't —- and they are surprised. They should always go, 'oh, I didn't see that coming'.' Nikita Dutta on her 'Jewel Thief' jaunt I have grown up watching slick action thrillers from all over the world. In such films, there is always a female who is glamorous and whom you want to look at. So it was fun to be that! I love Money Heist and the Ocean's franchise, especially its all-female spin-off Ocean's 8. In heist movies, there is always a thin chance of you trying to act smart but looking foolish in the process. There have been recent Hollywood films where I went, 'What are these guys doing! Of course, this is not possible!' So the trick is to engage the audience while also not looking silly.
